Trump’s energy policies a boon for environmental lawyers

A court blocked the delay of rules to reduce oil industry releases of methane, such as at this site in Ardmore, Okla.

A court blocked the delay of rules to reduce oil industry releases of methane, such as at this site in Ardmore, Okla.

Photo: BRANDON THIBODEAUX, NYT

Photo: BRANDON THIBODEAUX, NYT

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A court blocked the delay of rules to reduce oil industry releases of methane, such as at this site in Ardmore, Okla.

A court blocked the delay of rules to reduce oil industry releases of methane, such as at this site in Ardmore, Okla.

Photo: BRANDON THIBODEAUX, NYT

Trump’s energy policies a boon for environmental lawyers

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WASHINGTON — President Trump promised to grow jobs by rolling back Obama-era energy and pollution rules. And he’s fulfilling his pledge, but not how he intended.

In just six months, Trump’s policies have resulted in a surge in employment — for environmental lawyers.

Since Trump took office, environmental groups and Democratic state attorneys general have filed more than four dozen lawsuits challenging his executive orders and decisions by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, Interior Department and other agencies. Environmental organizations are hiring extra lawyers. Federal agencies are requesting bigger legal defense budgets.

The first round of legal skirmishes has mostly gone to the environmentalists.

Earlier this month, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit blocked the administration from delaying Obama-era rules aimed at reducing oil industry releases of methane, a potent greenhouse gas. On June 14, a federal judge ruled against permits issued to complete construction of the Dakota Access pipeline, a partial victory for the Standing Rock Sioux tribe, which claims its hunting and fishing grounds are threatened by the oil pipeline.

Abigail Dillen, a vice president of litigation for Earthjustice, a nonprofit organization that filed the Dakota Access lawsuit, said her group and others are girding for years of court battles over bedrock environmental laws, such as the Clean Water Act and Clean Air Act. Earthjustice has increased its staff of lawyers since November to 100, and is planning to hire another 30 in coming months.